Markell signs senior transportation bill

Gov. Jack Markell signed a bill at Cape Henlopen Senior Center in Rehoboth Beach Sept. 2 aimed at helping drivers who provide a lift for seniors.

Sponsored by Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, and Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, House Bill 389 prevents auto insurance companies from increasing rates or terminating the insurance of nonprofit transportation drivers. Schwartzkopf said as long as drivers are not paid cash, their insurance cannot be cancelled for transporting seniors.

The bill is a result of concerns raised by members of the Independent Transportation Network, a national network cooperative that relies on volunteer drivers to transport seniors in rural areas. ITN Southern Delaware Board President Nancy Feichtl said the company can also take visually impaired riders wherever they need to go. She said the goal is for ITN to provide 44,000 rides a year over the next decade.
Pettyjohn said the bill is good for Sussex County, where there are not a great deal of public transportation options.

The bill that will greatly enhance ITNSouthernDelaware's ability to provide affordable transportation services in and around Sussex County to seniors 55-plus and adults with visual impairments.

ITN, the new nonprofit transportation cooperative, strives to provide sustainable, community-based and community supported transportation services by using all volunteers to serve older adults. The co-op opened its doors Aug. 1, 2015, and began providing rides to its members Dec. 1, 2015. Since then, some prospective volunteer drivers received information from their automobile insurers causing them to withdraw from providing these volunteer services.

When members of the 148th General Assembly heard about ITN's plight, Schwartzkopf, and Pettyjohn joined together to sponsor House Bill 389/SA 1. This non-partisan bill amends Title 18 of the Delaware Code relating to insurance, and is in response to concerns that an automobile insurance carrier might increase the rates or terminate the policy of nonprofit transportation drivers who do not receive monetary compensation.

Although it does not prevent insurance providers from using other accepted criteria such as moving violations, this bill does protect volunteer drivers from adverse consequences for volunteering their services to help other coop members remain safe on the roads, independent, and mobile in their own homes for as long as possible.

The bill was passed unanimously by the House and the Senate June 30.

"I am so grateful for the support of our Delaware senators and representatives. Getting a huge nonprofit initiative in place to help local people is a giant job. ITN Southern Delaware could not have gotten launched and cannot sustain without outside support," said Feichtl.

ITN executive director, Dr. Janis Hanwell, said, "We have gone from providing 40 rides in December 2015 to now averaging over 175 rides per month, and the number of members and rides keeps growing."

ITN's central dispatch office is located in the Milton CHEER Center and volunteers provide members with rides as far as Dover, and to Salisbury, Berlin, and Ocean City, Md.

The nonprofit is fully operational, with riders and volunteer drivers from Milton to Fenwick Island, Selbyville to Millsboro, and services have recently begun in Georgetown and Milford. Members are using the services for medical appointments, worship activities, salon and barbershop engagements, banking, recreation, exercise, social events, and much more, and ITN intends to expand into western Sussex County in the fall.

Hanwell said that volunteers and strong community support are necessary to grow and sustain the program.

"The number of people 65 and over is expected to triple in Sussex County over the next 15 years, so joining now, instead of waiting until you think you might need a ride, will help to make sure we are still in operation when you do need us," is the message Hanwell is trying to spread.

To find out more information about how to volunteer or become a member of ITNSouthernDelaware, call 302-448-8486 or go to www.itnsoutherndelaware.org.